REBECCA RIDES AGAIN
Not satisfied with boogie boarding and scuba diving (She recently saw seahorses. -dt), Rebecca decided that she would attempt riding horses while here in Mexico. Thank you, Tori, for making that recommendation. Hmm. The friend of one of our neighbors facilitated Mrs.T's visit to one of the stables in the area; there are several. They even play polo nearby on occasion.
A couple of other events should be noted. The puzzle ladies have been at it, plunking pieces down left and right. We thank all the folks that have donated puzzles to the cause, particularly Helen and Barrie who contributed a puzzle of Ravensburger Castle they encountered on their European River Cruise. I am giving them a special shout out because, partially due to their splendid reviews, we are going on the same cruise in June. Hmm again. We may come back with another puzzle.
And the annual Festival of Our Lady of Peace is wrapping up as we are composing this. Most of you are familiar with the event with lots of peregrinations, entertainment, and fireworks. Saturday is the final day and will have the blessing of the boats, presentation of the queen, and the final Castillo. (They actually wound up with five of them. –dt) It is a big day for our lovely town.
Here is Rebecca's story about some of her activities:
The word has gotten out. Evidently horses all over the world know Rebecca is easy. I have started horse riding lessons in Mexico and it is deja vu. You might recall when I was riding in Ohio Tori told me to hit the horse and I gave him a little tap and he turned his head and smirked at me. Well last week in Mexico the teacher told me to give the horse a kick and when I gave him a little nudge he turned his head, and you guessed it, different horse but the same exact smirk! But nonetheless I persevere.
The stable here is much more of a rich person's place. Here a groom leads up your horse, holds the horse's head and tries not to laugh as I struggle to climb on. I pretend I am rich but I don't think I am fooling anybody. My horse is a large sturdy black horse named Simon. He is a little lethargic. One of the riders told me everybody starts on Simon. Of course another rider told me he was high spirited and bucked a lot. I think that was a joke.
They have 32 horses and teach English riding and jumping. I bought a beautiful pair of cowboy boots. All of the other adults wear very high black boots and stretchy pants which if they even had them in my size would not be flattering to say the least. All of the other riders I have met are either men, or teenage girls, or young children. Some of the riders seem quite accomplished. The men are either friendly or gallant to me or both. The teacher and the horses speak Spanish but I'm getting along. I am not at all sure that Simon likes me. Next week I am bringing him a carrot. Simon is very good about stopping, but kind of hard to get started. I have to kick him a lot and yell "VAS!!" which is Spanish for go. I ride with an English saddle and so far I am doing okay. (She has not fallen off; no hoof cleaning either. –dt)
The boogie boarding has been a mixed bag recently. Some days there have been great waves, not too big or too small. Some days there have been no waves at all; so we walk the shore looking at tide pools and picking up shells. Getting there and back has been a little complicated at times as we ride the bus. I need one hand to carry my boogie board, my handbag/backpack is slung over my shoulder, one hand desperately grasps my shorts which are apt to slide down when over my dive skin or my slippery bathing suit, another hand holds the money for the bus, a final hand holds out my old people's card so that I can ride the bus for half price. This would be easy enough for an octopus.
Last week we had a very grumpy bus driver. (NB: There weren't any waves that day. –dt) I was the last of a long line of riders laden with various paraphernalia to get on at the beach stop. "VAMANOS!! VAMANOS!!" - Let's go!, he shouted at me. I stumbled up the steps and let go of my shorts to hold out the money. Alas at that moment gravity struck and I almost had a wardrobe malfunction. "SIENTASE!!" - SIT DOWN!, the driver yelled at me. A nice lady grabbed my board so I could adjust my slipping shorts. After lurching down the aisle - the bus was now racing around the mountains at full speed - I managed to nudge a man over so I could sit down.
Since I had not paid, I followed accepted procedure and passed up my fare. "Seis" -6, I said, letting the driver know I expected 4 pesos change from my 10 peso coin. "Seis," said the lady in the seat in front of me as she passed on my fare. This honor system always works and I had never known it to fail - until this day. My four pesos did not come back. Shortly a money collector slouched down the aisle. (Some busses have an 'assistant' to collect fares. –dt) "You owe me four pesos!" I accused in Spanish. "No, you owe me two!" he shouted back. Usually bus drivers are nice but you meet the occasional grump and they have been known to overcharge foreigners. 'I have a third-age card. I am half price." I replied waving my card at him. "Yes, she is old, give her a discount!" said the man in the seat across the aisle. (Her grey mane obviously verifies the fact. –dt) Thanks, I think. "You young people should show more respect," said another older lady. Faced with a general revolt, the driver returned my change. After a few miles I carefully dismounted the bus holding all my stuff with my right hand and my shorts with my left and slowly but triumphantly trudged home.
A few peregrination pictures and a puzzle too:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/9151458@N07/sets/72157650496132145/
We hope all of you are warm and safe.
Happy Lunar New Year!
Dan and Rebecca
www.casa-de-terrible.blogspot.com
